Muscular dystrophies are a group of diseases that make muscles weaker and less flexible over time. Duchenne muscular dystrophy is the most common type. It’s caused by flaws in the gene that controls how the body keeps muscles healthy.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy is the most common fatal genetic disorder diagnosed in childhood, affecting approximately 1 in every 3,500 live male births (about 20,000 new cases each year worldwide). Because the Duchenne gene is found on the X-chromosome, it primarily affects boys; however, it occurs across all races and cultures.

Causes

Duchenne muscular dystrophyis caused by a problem in one of your genes. Genes contain the information your body needs to make proteins, which carry out many different body functions.

If you have Duchenne muscular dystrophy, the gene that makes a protein called dystrophin is broken. This protein normally keeps muscles strong and protects them from injury.

The condition is more common in boys because of the way parents pass Duchenne muscular dystrophy genes to their children. It’s what scientists call a sex-linked disease because it’s connected to the groups of genes, called chromosomes, that determine if a baby is a boy or a girl.

It’s rare, but sometimes people who don’t have a family history of Duchenne muscular dystrophy get the disease when their genes get defects on their own.

Symptoms & Signs

If your child has DMD, you’ll probably notice the first signs before he turns 6 years old. Muscles in the legs are usually some of the first affected, so he’ll probably start to walk much later than other children his age. Once he can walk, he may fall down often and have trouble climbing stairs or getting up from the floor. After a few years, he might also begin to waddle or walk on his toes.

Listed below are the common signs of Duchenne. If a boy has a combination of these traits, he should be tested for Duchenne:

Has a hard time lifting his head or has a weak neck

Is not walking by 15 months

Has a hard time walking, running, or climbing stairs

Is not speaking as well as other kids his age

Needs help getting up from the floor or walks his hands up his legs in order to stand (see Gower Maneuver, right)

Has calves that look bigger than normal (pseudohypertophy)

Walks with his legs apart

Walks on his toes and waddles

Walks with his chest pointed out (or has a sway back, saddle back, or hollow back)

Diagnosis

Unfortunately, once a child is born with duchenne muscular dystrophy, its progression cannot be stopped. However, once there is a known case of v within a family, it is possible to offer prenatal diagnoses in future pregnancies (for both the mother of the diagnosed child and for other women in the family) through genetic testing.

Genetic testing

Genetic testing refers to analysis of the gene itself, and it identifies the specific disease causing mutation. Genetic testing can also predict a person’s risk of developing a disease. For expectant mothers, genetic studies performed during pregnancy can detect Duchenne with about 95% accuracy.

Getting a Diagnosis

You should let your child’s doctor know about the symptoms you’ve been noticing. He’ll want to know your child’s medical history, then ask questions about his symptoms, like:

How old was your child when he started walking?

How well does he do things like run, climb stairs, or get up from the floor?

How long have you noticed these problems?

Does anyone else in your family have muscular dystrophy? If so, what kind?

Does he have any trouble breathing?

How well does he pay attention or remember things?

The doctor will give your child a physical exam, and he may do some tests to rule out other conditions that can cause muscle weakness.

If the doctor suspects duchenne muscular dystrophy, he’ll do some other tests, including:

Blood tests. The doctor will take a sample of your child’s blood and test it for creatine kinase, an enzyme that your muscles release when they are damaged. A high CK level is a sign that your child could have duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Gene tests. Doctors can also test the blood sample to look for a change in the dystrophin gene that causes duchenne muscular dystrophy. Girls in the family can get the test to see if they carry this gene.

Muscle biopsy. Using a needle, the doctor removes a tiny piece of your child’s muscle. He’ll look at it under a microscope to check for low levels of dystrophin, the protein that is missing in people with duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Treatment

There’s no cure for duchenne muscular dystrophy, but there are medicines and other therapies that can ease your child’s symptoms, protect his muscles, and keep his heart and lungs healthy.

Taking Care of Your Child

It’s overwhelming to learn that your child has duchenne muscular dystrophy. Remember that the disease doesn’t mean he can’t go to school, play sports, and have fun with friends. If you stick with his treatment plan and know what works for your child, you can help him live an active life.

Stand and walk as much as possible. Being upright will keep your child’s bones strong and his spine straight. Braces or standing walkers can make it easier for him to stand and get around.

Eat right. There’s no special diet for children with duchenne muscular dystrophy, but healthy foods can prevent weight problems or help with constipation. Work with a dietitian to make sure your child eats the right balance of nutrients and calories each day. You may need to see a specialist if your child has trouble swallowing.

Stay active. Exercise and stretches can keep your child’s muscles and joints limber and help him feel better. A physical therapist can teach him how to exercise safely without overworking.

Find support. Other families living with duchenne muscular dystrophy can be great resources for advice and understanding about life with the disease. Find a local support group or explore online discussion boards. It may also help you to talk about your feelings with a psychologist or counselor.

Different religions have different rituals. A lot of religions do not allow the consumption of pork. It’s a little known fact that too much pork can be harmful to your health.

Yersinia enterocolitica is a bacteria that resides within a pig’sbody. It is a dangerous contaminant and causes diarrhea, vomiting, cramps, fever and sickness. Ractopamine is another microorganism found in the animal’s body which can even cause death.

Taenia solium found in pork will cause loss of appetite. This compound can also cause conditions like fever, myalgia and edema. Profuse sweating occurs in certain parts of the body and chills and migraines are also symptoms of this condition.

All harmful elements need to be eliminated from the pork before consumption. Cooking on a high temperature because willl kill the bacteria.

After touching raw pork, do not forget to wash your hands and when you buy pork meat, make sure it has not been fed medication, anti-toxins, ractopamine and in-organic compounds.

Doubt will always remain, but the truth is that the conditons these animals are kept in and the food they are fed are all factors in the negative health implications of eating pork.

Many factory farms do not offer clean air for their pigs or sufficient sunlight and clean food, most grains and sludge are tainted with pesticides and poisins. Pigs are fed medication and anti-infection agents as food instead of green grass

Cirrhosis refers to the replacement of damaged liver cells by scar tissue. Too much scarring prevents blood flow through the liver. This causes even more damage and loss of liver function. Cirrhosis can hinder the body’s use of nutrients and can lead to malnutrition.

Many patients with cirrhosis tend to hold onto (or retain) water. This often is shown first by swelling in the ankles, particularly after walking. The swelling may move up the legs to the abdomen. Water buildup in the abdomen is called “ascites”

Sodium (salt)

Too much sodium (or salt) in the diet can make the situation worse, because sodium encourages the body to retain water. Your doctor will tell you if you need to limit sodium in your diet. Usually this means restricting sodium intake to about 2,000 mg a day or less.

Tips:

If you need to restrict sodium, here are some tips that can help:

Avoid salty foods, salt in cooking, and salt at the table. Anything that tastes salty (such as tomato sauce, salsa, soy sauce, canned soups) probably has too much salt. Spice things up with lemon juice or herbs, instead of salt. Fresh foods usually are a better bet than processed foods.

Read food labels when shopping. Check the amount of sodium in the foods you are buying.

Avoid fast-food restaurants. Most fast foods are very high in sodium.

Go easy on meats, especially red meats, which are high in sodium. When possible, consider vegetarian (meat-free) alternatives.

The more fluid you retain, the greater your need to avoid salt. Your doctor may prescribe diuretics (“water pills”) to help you urinate more. But all the water pills in the world won’t help if you eat salty foods, such as anchovy pizzas.

Calories and protein

People with cirrhosis may need more extra calories and protein. They may lose their appetite and experience nausea, vomiting, and severe weight loss. This can lead to shortage of the minerals calcium and magnesium (signs include muscle cramps, fatigue, weakness, nausea, and vomiting), or a shortage of zinc (signs include reduced ability to taste, changes in taste).

It can help to eat small, frequent meals (4 to 7 times a day), including an evening snack. Your doctor even may recommend high-nutritional supplement drinks, such as Ensure or Boost.

When the scarring from cirrhosis prevents blood from passing through the liver, pressure increases in the veins entering the liver. This is called portal hypertension. The body is forced to reroute the blood away from the liver and into the general blood circulation. This causes large blood vessels, called “varices,” to form.

Because the rerouted blood bypasses the liver, it contains high levels of amino acids, ammonia, and toxins that normally would have been handled by the liver. When these substances reach the brain, they can cause confusion and temporary loss of memory (a condition called “hepatic encephalopathy”).

Amino acids and ammonia come from protein in the diet. Some evidence shows that patients with cirrhosis do better when they get their protein from vegetables (such as beans, lentils, and tofu) and from dairy products (eggs, milk, yogurt) instead of from meats.

Doctors can prescribe a syrup called Lactulose to push food through the bowels more quickly. This way, less food is absorbed, the liver has less work to do, and fewer toxins make their way to the brain.

The government of India has planned to set up an All India Institute of Homeopathy at Narela, New Delhi. The initiative taken by the ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga, Yuan, Siddha and Homeopathy) aims to fill the lacuna in the field of homeopathy education.

According to Shripad Yesso Naik, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for AYUSH, this institute will be developed as a centre of excellence with a focus on fundamental research, drug safety regulation and standardisation, quality control including scientific validation of homeopathy. The institute will undertake post graduate and doctoral education related to the discipline of homeopathy including interdisciplinary studies.

With an intake capacity of 60 postgraduate students, the institute will provide degrees of MD and Ph.D including reorientation training and continuing medical education to homeopathic physicians and teachers alike. This would be backed by a state-of-the-art tertiary care hospital with facilities for clinical research which would, according to the minister, establish standard in the field of education, research and therapy at the highest level including both national and international forms. Thus the institute is expected to serve as a model for other institutions to emulate.

Homeopathy, though chastised by some medical fraternity bodies like Australian and British National Health and Medical Council as pseudo-science, is quite popular in India. In fact, it is said to have found a favor in as early as in 1835 when Maharana Ranjit Singh of Lahore invited Dr. John Martin Honigberger for the treatment of his paralysed vocal chords with feet swelling. However, it is Dr. Salzar of Vienna who is credited as the founder of homeopathic education in India. He influenced Dr. P C Majumdar who, along with Dr. Roy, Dr. Banerjee, and Dr. Younan, established the first homeopathic college in India under the name ‘Calcutta Homeopathic Medical College’ in 1878.

After independence, the Central Research Institute was established in Ghaziabad under the Homeopathy Central Councils Act, 1973 for standardisation of education and practice in the field of Homeopathy treatment. However, it is with the proposed college for higher education that a definitive step is being undertaken to address the inherent lacunae of homeopathic education. This institute will undertake interdisciplinary research, primarily focusing on best possible homeopathic treatment within the skeleton of traditional homeopathic principles and their applicable correlation with biomolecular western medicines.

The total expected cost of the institute is around Rs 302.16 crore with a time limit of around 60 months for completion. That would include around 36 months of construction work in projects.

After establishment, the proposed institute would consist of 10 departments and 10 speciality clinics with interdisciplinary research laboratories wherein the MD and Ph.D students will have access to 60 scholars. The institute would also include an International Centre for research and global promotion of the science of homeopathy.

Some of the goals which the Institute is expected to achieve includes bringing synergy between homeopathy and modern diagnostics, technology and management; highlighting principles of homeopathy; developing a knowledge centre for research and therapy monitoring, recording, evaluation, and feedback. Further, the institute is also expected to promote collaborative research with various research and development institutions at national and international level and function as an apex body for international collaboration in India.

President Pranab Mukherjee at Kolkata on Monday said moreresearch is crucial to unearth greater scientific understanding of homeopathy.

He was speaking while addressing at a function on ‘The Legacy to Humanity: Celebrating 150 years of Homeopathy’ as the Chief Guest in Kolkata, This event has been organized by Dr. Prasanta Banerji Homeopathic Research Foundation to commemorate 150 years of association of Dr. Banerji’s family with homeopathyAddressing the gathering, the President said that the generational association of Prasanta Banerji’s family with Homeopathy dates back to the mid-nineteenth century.Banerji’s grandfather, Ishan Chandra, was Pandit Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar’s brother. Vidyasagar was once treated for migraine with homeopathy. Pleased with the results, Vidyasagar convinced his brother Ishan Chandra to pursue this line of treatment.Ishan Chandra learned homeopathy and took to treating the poor as a charitable cause. Ishan Chandra’s son, Pareshnath Banerji, practiced homeopathy in a village in Bihar named Mihijam. His fame attracted patients from far and wide.He became a pioneer in homeopathic medicinal mixtures in India. Prasanta Banerji, the second son of Pareshnath Banerji, is the third generation practitioner of homeopathy in this illustrious family line.His son, Pratip Banerji, has kept the family tradition alive.
The Homeopathic Research Foundation was established by Prasanta Banerji and his son, Pratip Banerji, in 1993.It was set up with the objective to make homeopathy a scientific and effective mode of alternative medicine.The Foundation is rendering yeoman’s service to the masses through provision of wide-ranging homeopathic healthcare.

The President said that focused attention on research is crucial to unearth greater scientific understanding of homeopathy. Use of latest knowledge could pave the way for cutting edge research in this field. It could lead to the affirmation of homeopathic medicines in fundamental and clinical conditions.

It is heartening to note that the Prasanta Banerji Homeopathic Research Foundation is involved in active research. It accrues data about various life threatening diseases from the treatment it administers using The Banerji Protocols.The President said that seized of the need to promote these alternative healing systems, the Department of Indian Medicine and Homeopathy was created by the Government of India. It was later re-named Department of AYUSH and became a full-fledged Ministry last year.

Most moms-to-be likely don’t need prenatal multivitamin supplements, which can be a drain on the wallet, according to a U.K. review.

Multivitamin and mineral supplements are often promoted to pregnant women as a way of giving their child the best possible start. Nourishment before and during pregnancy is important, since it’s an intense period of growth for mom and baby.

Supplements containing more than 20 vitamin and minerals are marketed to women before conception and during pregnancy to ward off complications such as neural tube defects like spina bifada, low birthweight and pre-eclampsia, researchers say in the July issue of Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin, published by BMJ.

The reviewers combed through published research on folic acid, vitamin D, iron, vitamins C, E, and A, and multivitamin supplements to see which have the strongest evidence to support national guidelines in the U.K.

Their verdict? Stick with folic acid and vitamin D during pregnancy.

Folic acid had the strongest evidence base, with a daily dose of 400 micrograms or 0.4 milligrams recommended for women trying to conceive until 12 weeks of pregnancy.

Last year’s Canadian guidelines for folic acid in pregnancy are similar, with higher amounts recommended for those at moderate or high risk for a neural tube defect.

Cleft palate, certain cardiac defects, urinary tract anomalies and limb reduction defects may also be sensitive to folate, also called vitamin B9, according to the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC).

The evidence for vitamin D supplementation in all pregnant women was less clear, based on the gold standard of randomized control trial evidence. The U.K. team recommended 10 micrograms of vitamin D daily throughout pregnancy and breastfeeding, with a higher dose suggested for some women.

Promote healthy diet

“We found no evidence to recommend that all pregnant women should take prenatal multi-nutrient supplements beyond the nationally advised folic acid and vitamin D supplements, generic versions of which can be purchased relatively inexpensively,” the reviewers concluded.

“The primary focus should be on promoting a healthy diet and improving the use of folic acid supplements, which have a poor uptake, particularly among those from lower income families.”

Dr. Danielle Martin, a family physician in Toronto and a contributor to CBC Health, says basic supplements are sufficient.

“I see women in my office with bags of expensive pregnancy supplements,” Martin said in an email. “I tell them all they need is a little folic acid in the first trimester and then some iron in the third, but these pill-makers have some good advertising!”

“Maintenance of maternal iron stores is usually assured if low level iron supplements are provided during the last half of the pregnancy,” the Canadian society said.

The reviewers suggest greater promotion of simple vitamin preparations. They added pregnant women should also be advised to avoid vitamin A supplements, which can be risky to the baby.

A new report from the World Health Organisation (WHO) makes even this poor statistic look worse, given it points out that of the allopathic doctors in the country, more than half (57%) did not have a medical degree. (Reuters)

Also, since AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, Homoeopathy) doctors tend to be better qualified than allopathic ones—according to WHO, 53% of AYUSH doctors had degrees in their respective fields as compared to 43% for allopathic ones– the government would be better off if it were to expand its AYUSH programme.

Published on July 4, the study titled The Health Workforce In India describes the “nature of health workforce inequalities” in the country and provides much needed insight into the many challenges faced by India.

Here are its most important conclusions

For a population of 1.02 billion in 2001, there were just 20 lakh health workers in the country. Of these, 39.6% were doctors, 30.5% were nurses and midwives, and a meagre 1.2% dentists.

Of all doctors, 77.2% were allopathic and 22.8% were ayurvedic, homeopathic or unani (AYUSH). Other categories of health workers were pharmacists, ancillary health professionals, and traditional and faith healers – they comprised 28.8% of the total health workforce.

Shockingly, 31.4% of these allopathic doctors were educated only up to secondary school level and a massive 57.3% did not even have a medical qualification. Among nurses and midwives, 67.1% received education only up to secondary school level.

As many as 73 districts in the country had no nurses with a medical qualification.

Of all health workers, 59.2% were based in urban areas (home to just 27.8% of the population) and only 40.8% were based in rural areas (home to 72.2% of India’s population.)

The education level and medical qualification of urban doctors was much higher than that of rural doctors. While 83.4% of urban allopathic doctors received educated higher than secondary school level, only 45.9% of rural allopathic doctors were as educated.

This urban-rural divide was one of the most important highlights of the study. Of the 30 districts with lowest density of allopathic doctors, half were in north-eastern states and the remainder are in central states – including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh. Of the 30 districts with the highest density of allopathic doctors, more than half were in state capitals including seven in Delhi itself.

The case was the same for nurses – their density was at its lowest in districts of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand and at its best in state capitals or in the national capital. Seven districts of Kerala were among the 30 with highest density of nurses.

These gaps sharpened in the area of medical qualifications – while 58.4% urban allopathic doctors were appropriately qualified, only a meagre 18.8% of rural allopathic doctors had a medical qualification.

The study also revealed a stark gender divide – of all health workers only 38% were female. The highest number of female health workers was found in Kerala (64.5%) and Meghalaya (64.2%), while states with the lowest female health workers were Uttar Pradesh (19.9%) and Bihar (22.3%).

Despite a majority of doctors being male, they were largely less educated than female doctors. Among allopathic doctors, only 37.7% male doctors were medically qualified as compared to 67.2% females.

For some states, fraction of AYUSH doctors was much higher than the rest – 41.7% in Tripura, 40.5% in Orissa and 38.1% in Kerala.

The study pointed to a general lack of dental healthcare in the country. Of the 593 districts in the country, 58 districts had no dentists at all, while 88 districts had no dentists with more than secondary schooling. 175 districts had no dentists with a medical qualification.

Conception problems becoming more and more common among today’s couples. Read on to find out ways to boost male fertility and increase sperm count naturally, and to understand lifestyle factors which can impact male fertility.

The presence of couples unable to conceive is an increasingly common scenario in my clinic compared to two decades ago. About 15 percent of couples experience conception problems, and this percentage is growing. Infertility is defined as the absence of conception after one year of regular intercourse without the use of any contraceptive. Men are responsible for this problem at least 40 percent of the time. Where modern medicine has developed its own technical solutions for assisting infertile couples in getting pregnant, complementary medicine can also offer its own assistance in increasing male fertility and sperm count. Before attempting natural remedies, it is important to rule out any underlying treatable medical conditions.

1. Improve sperm count

The average sperm count is between 120 and 350 million per cubic centimeter. A low sperm count is below 40 million per cubic centimeter. Low sperm counts or poor sperm motility may be due to environmental toxins such as chemicals, radiation, drugs, heavy metal exposure, cigarette smoking, excessive alcohol use, street drug use and pollution.

Heat can also reduce sperm production. Hot baths, sitting for long periods of time and tight-fitting underwear that constricts the testes can all elevate temperatures long enough to suppress sperm production.

The anti-ulcer drugs cimetidine and ranitidine have both been reported to decrease sperm count and produce impotence.

2. Reduce chemical exposure

The semen of the average man today has half the sperm, and of poorer quality, than 50 years ago.

This is believed to be caused by exposure to xenoestrogens (PCBs, DDT, dioxin, other pesticides, plastics and industrial pollutants) that mimic the effects of estrogen. You can prevent or minimize the impact of xenoestrogens on your health by doing the following:

3. Improve diet

Maintain your ideal weight. Food deprivation in men leads to a loss of sex drive and structural changes to reproductive tissue leading to infertility.

Obesity, on the other hand, can be associated with a low sperm count and impotence, possibly because of higher temperatures caused by excess fat near the testes.

4. Exercise regularly

According to the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, regular exercise(five times a week for at least 45 minutes) and a healthy diet enhance fertility by keeping body weight at normal levels and relieving stress and anxiety.

Excessive amounts of exercise (marathon running and associated training) can be a cause of infertility because it can lead to amenorrhea (absence of menstruation) in women and a lowered sperm count in men.

If you are not sure what type of exercise is best for you, get yourself a personal trainer. He or she can give you an exercise program to bring your weight and fitness levels into the ideal range.

5. Take nutritional supplements

For men, the most important supplemental nutrients to enhance fertility are vitamin C and zinc. Vitamin C (2,000 to 6,000 milligrams daily) helps prevent sperm from clumping or sticking together, thus improving the chances for fertility.

Arginine is an amino acid the body produces from the digestion of protein. It is found in high amounts in the head of the sperm. Although not available as a supplement in Canada, arginine has been shown to help low sperm counts and poor motility. In high doses, arginine is also a potent dilator of arteries, leading to better erections. Food sources of arginine include nuts, chocolate, meat, poultry, fish and dairy.

What does diet during pregnancy mean? When we refer to diet during pregnancy, we are not speaking about restricting calories or trying to lose weight. Dieting to lose weight during pregnancy can be hazardous to you and your baby, especially since a weight loss regimen may restrict important nutrients such as iron, folic acid, and other important vitamins and minerals.

Therefore, we recommend avoiding popular diets such as Atkins, South Beach, The Zone, Raw Food Diet, and so on.

The type of diet we encourage during pregnancy refers to fine-tuning your eating habits to ensure you are receiving adequate nutrition for the health of you and your baby. Healthy eating during pregnancy is critical to your baby’s growth and development. In order to get the nutrients you need, you must eat from a variety of food groups, including fruits and vegetables, breads and grains, protein sources and dairy products.

Typically, you will need to consume an extra 300 calories a day.

Food Groups

It is always important to eat a variety of foods throughout the day making certain you get the nutrients both you and your baby need. Here is a look at the food groups and some suggested sources for creating a healthy diet during pregnancy.

Fruits and Vegetables: Fruits and vegetables contain many important nutrients for pregnancy especially, Vitamin C and Folic Acid. Pregnant women need at least 70 mg of Vitamin C daily, which is contained in fruits such as oranges, grapefruits and honeydew, and vegetables such as broccoli, tomatoes, and brussel sprouts.

In order to prevent neural tube defects, 0.4 mg of folic acid per day is recommended. A good source of folic acid can be found in dark green leafy vegetables (other sources of folic acid include legumes, such as black or lima beans, black-eyed peas, and veal). You should have at least 2-4 servings of fruit and 4 or more servings of vegetables daily.

Breads and Grains: The body’s main source of energy for pregnancy comes from the essential carbohydrates found in breads and grains. Whole grain and enriched products provide important nutrients such as iron, B Vitamins, fiber and some protein, even. You can get the required amount of folic acid from fortified bread and cereal.

Depending on your weight and dietary needs, you should consume anywhere between 6-11 servings (6-11 oz) of breads/grains daily.

Protein: Meat, poultry, fish, eggs and beans contain the protein, B vitamins and iron needed in pregnancy. Your developing baby needs plenty of protein, especially in the second and third trimesters. Iron helps to carry oxygen to your growing baby, and also carries oxygen to your muscles to help avoid symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, irritability and depression.

The U.S. RDA recommends about 27 mg per day. Lean beef, chicken, lamb, liver, turkey and veal are good options. Fish, and some seafood, can be a good nutritional choice for pregnancy, within guidelines. Fish that contain high levels of mercury should be avoided. (Read more about Fish and Mercury Levels). You should consume at least 3 servings of protein daily.

Dairy Products: At least 1000 mg of calcium is needed daily to support a pregnancy. Calcium is essential for building strong teeth and bones, normal blood clotting, and muscle and nerve function. Since your developing baby requires a considerable amount of calcium, your body will take calcium from your bones, if you do not consume enough through your diet (which can lead to future problems, such as osteoporosis).

Good sources of calcium include milk, cheese, yogurt, cream soups and puddings. Some calcium is also found in green vegetables, seafood, beans and dried peas. You should consume at least 4 servings of dairy products daily.

A Complement to Nutrition

Prenatal Vitamins: Although the main source of vitamins and nutrients needed during pregnancy should come from your diet, a daily prenatal vitamin can help fill small gaps—just in case you unintentionally do not get enough key nutrients. Prenatal vitamins should be taken up to three months before conception, if possible.

Consult your healthcare provider about which supplement is best for you.

REMEMBER – a prenatal vitamin, or any other supplement, can only complement a healthy diet during pregnancy.

Sample Daily Menu

The following sample menu will give you some idea of what a pregnant woman should typically consume in a day for a healthy diet during pregnancy. Three small, but balanced, meals and three light snacks throughout the day are a good rule of thumb to ensure you and your baby’s nutritional needs are met.

You may rightfully ask “Why should a person who has no official degree in homeopathy should speak about future of homeopathy in India”. My humble answer to this question will be that due to providence of luck , good fortune and my official position as the Director of one of the leading Institutes of Indian Council of Medical Research. I have a ring side view of epidemics, degenerative and malignant disorders spreading in this country and how available medical system is not able to control it. I am also a witness to rising resentment of patients due to lack of empathy and astronomical cost of management of various disorders through portals of modern medicine.

I was trained as a physician and hematologist with modern medicine but like many families in West Bengal I continued to study homeopathic medicines at home from my school days. Hence my study of homeopathy is for far longer period than my study of modern medicine. I have witnessed many astonishing cures with homeopathic medicines in my own life to convince me that this system of medicine has a bright future in our country.

Though Honingberger brought homeopathy to India, from the beginning of 20th century some of the giants in modern medicine embraced homeopathy. The name of Dr.Mahendralal Sarkar immediately comes to my mind. Subsequently many allopathic doctors have embraced homeopathy even at the risk of calling them “Mongrel”. We should remember Hahnemann himself was an allopath before he discovered the secrets of homeopathy. His disciples like Herring was also a leading allopathic practitioner of his time.

You may also legitimately ask me why do I think homeopathy has a bright future in India?

(i) The common causes of death due to various diseases in India is still Diarrheal Disorders, upper respiratory infections, malaria etc. In all these diseases homeopathy records one of the highest number of cures. We all remember what happened during cholera epidemic in London and the feat achieved by homeopathic physicians of that country with almost no death in their hands compared to 10-15 % deaths in allopathic hospitals.

(ii) Some of the disorders like Bronchial Asthma, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Osteoarthritis, allergies have no permanent cure in modern medicine but good to excellent results may be obtained with homeopathic medicine cheaply.

(iii) We are losing so many patients due to dengue, H1N1, Influenza etc. As Herring has said in every epidemic a medicine may be found as “Genus Epidemicus” which will cure majority of these patients during that epidemic. We need a homeopath with keen eye and sharp understanding of the science for finding a homeopathic medicine for every “Genus Epidemic us” .

(iv) In early twentieth century a large number of homeopaths from Bengal proved several local herbs and trees for homeopathic medicine. Dr.Sarat Chandra Ghose was a leading homeopath of his time who proved several local herbs into homeopathic medicine. India has thousands of herbs, vegetables, insects which are different from the Western world. These medicines are waiting to be proved for homeopathic usage. We need many young homeopaths to come ahead and prove these medicines.

We must ask ‘Is homeopathy and allopathic medicines are two parallel lines that should never meet? ‘ I don’t think so as advances in modern medicine is bringing into attention many unique actions of drugs where such action could not be explained by existing theories of pharmacology eg. action of various cytokines depends on the context in which the drug is acting! Does this not resemble mechanism of action of homeopathic medicine? I am sure these two apparently opposite views will meet. But we need many path breaking researches to achieve that. Please remember ‘Hypothesis of one century becomes the common sense of the next ‘.

A homeopathic physician should learn how allopath treat disease and vice versa. We are healers and how to heal patients quickly and effectively should be in our minds. A homeopath should be proud of his profession and should practice with keenness, knowledge and observations so that he/she can contribute towards understanding of this great art.